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SHERIFF / PURCHASING - Sheriff Dave Kain
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Requested Action(s)
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a) TRANSFER OF FUNDS: SHERIFF, B-4 - From Public Safety (106-301900), to Contingency (2002-5900), $32,256.88; and From Contingency (2002-59000), to Equipment (2027-57600), $32,256.88 (Requires 4/5’s vote)
b) Request authorization for the Purchasing Agent to amend purchase order 428539 with Mortech Manufacturing Co from fixed asset account number 2027-57605 to 2027-57600 and amend its original not to exceed amount from $91,855.32 to the amount not to exceed $112,256.88
c) Request authorization for the Purchasing Agent to sign the amended purchase order 428539 for the acquisition of (1) one mobile morgue trailer to be utilized by the Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management and Coroner’s division
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Financial Impact:
$80,000 of this purchase is already budgeted in budget unit 2027, account 57600. CALOES Homeland Security Grant Program FY2022, will reimburse the Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $80,000, the overage will be covered by AB443 funds in the amount of $32,256.88.
Background Information:
As part of the Homeland Security Grant FY22 from CalOES this project will purchase a mobile morgue trailer that will be stationed at our Sheriff’s Office. This trailer provides the space to serve as an overflow area if our morgue becomes impacted. It will have a dedicated portable generator and crime scene lighting built-in that will allow it to be deployed off-site and can be hauled by any of our pick-ups on our fleet. This would serve as an option for our regional partners as well if there was to be a need for additional morgue space due to disease outbreaks or mass casualty incidents. Many of our morgues in the region are small and could easily reach capacity during a surge event. With recent massive wildfires, starting with the Carr Fire and Camp Fire, and most recently the Dixie Fire, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, we see the need to plan for our county’s storage needs. We have seen a rise in population growth and an increase in average deaths. There have been multiple times when we have reached our morgue capacity but have been able to coordinate with local funeral homes for transport and storage so that we did not exceed capacity.
On March 19, 2024, the Tehama County Purchasing Department was approved by the Board of Supervisors to issue a purchase order for a Mobile Morgue Trailer System with Mortech. Upon further review and discussion with Mortech, PO 428539 was for the purchase of a 20 ft Refrigerated Storage Container and not a Mobile Morgue Trailer, as we had requested. There was miscommunication between all parties involved. The Sheriff’s Office has since been in contact with Mortech and has received a revised quote for the purchase of a mobile morgue trailer.